Students left with no place to stay

"Failure by any institution of higher education to keep students accommodated at all times can have serious consequences," provincial spokesman Senzo Mkhize said in a statement.

According to Independent Online, about 500 students had no place to sleep on Friday (8 March). They were asked to check out of the Coastlands Hotel on Pixley ka Seme street to make way for a long-standing booking by ANC local government leaders attending a summit.

The university was paying for students to stay at the hotel due to problems in residences. The students were taken to the Downtown Hotel in Durban's Point area in the early hours of Saturday (9 March), where about 10 students had to share a room.

The hotel is owned by Genchen Rugnath and his wife Ravina. The two are accused of running a brothel from the hotel.

"We don't feel safe here. This place has prostitutes and drunk people coming in and out," a student told Independent Online.

Students who had relatives in Durban spent the weekend with their families.

"As the ANC we condemn this and would like to urge the university to speedily look into the matter and make sure that this never happens again," Mkhize said.

University spokesman Nomonde Mbadi apologised to students.

"The problem arose after the landlord of the permanent accommodation where the students were located had allegedly not paid the electricity and water bills," she said.

She said students had to be relocated to two hotels in Durban while other accommodation was sought.

Mbadi said on Friday students were supposed to stay at the Royal Hotel but its owners failed to honour the agreement with the university.

"The university's staff remained with the students throughout the night while accommodation was being secured. Meals were provided for students," Mbadi said, adding that an investigation was underway.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge